Chevrolet and Dodge highlight pony car offerings at SEMA

The current-generation Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger may be getting a bit long in the tooth, but that’s no reason to avoid showing off the latest variants at SEMA. Dodge featured its recently announced Challenger Hellcat prominently, but also displayed a Challenger T/A concept that could conceivably be built with the Mopar parts catalog and some patience; Chevrolet, on the other hand, announced a trio of special edition Camaros that will hit dealer showrooms in early 2015.

2015 Camaro Commemorative Edition, in 2SS coupe form.

The 2015 Camaro Commemorative Edition model, which debuted at SEMA, will be available in both 2LT (loaded V-6) and 2SS (loaded V-8) trims, in coupe or convertible body styles. Effectively an appearance package, the Commemorative Edition officially “celebrates the success of the fifth-generation Camaro,” which has outsold the Ford Mustang every year since its 2009 introduction.

Distinguished by unique fender badges and a contrasting body side stripe, Commemorative Edition cars also receive unique 20-inch wheels, a body-colored front splitter, a rear spoiler borrowed from the ZL 1. Inside, buyers can opt for an “Adrenaline Red” interior, which contrasts black leather with red panels on seats, along with red contrast stitching on seats, doors and dashboard.

Available colors will include Black with a Cyber Gray stripe, Silver Ice Metallic with a Cyber Gray stripe, Summit White with a silver stripe, Ashen Gray Metallic with a silver stripe and Red Hot with a black stripe.

The 2015 Green Flash Camaro.

In case the Commemorative Editions are a bit too subtle, Chevrolet will also offer a special edition Emerald Green Camaro for 2015 that was announced last month but not named until the opening of the SEMA Show. Officially the “Green Flash” Camaro, the car will be available only as a 2SS coupe or 2SS convertible, and comes with contrasting Cyber Gray stripes, a ground effects kit, the RS appearance package, 21-inch Chrome Dusk wheels (from the Chevrolet Accessories catalog) and an interior that blends black leather with graphite silver trim.

Perhaps the most eye-catching Camaro in the Chevrolet booth, however, was the rotisserie stand-mounted coupe used to illustrate performance parts available through dealers. Featuring descriptions of each component on the underside of the car, it served as an effective wish list for owners of fifth-generation Camaros to plan future upgrades.

2015 Dodge Challenger T/A Concept.

Thanks to the recent introduction of the 707-horsepower Challenger Hellcat, the Dodge display was somewhat more muted, with the exception of the Sublime Green 2015 Challenger T/A Concept, likely built to commemorate the Challenger’s return to Trans-Am competition in 2014.

Heavily influenced by the 1970 Challenger T/A campaigned by Sam Posey, the modern version featured an SRT Premium Hood with a Viper-style scoop; a Mopar cold air intake; “Air Catcher” headlamps to further improve airflow to the 392-cu.in. Hemi V-8 engine; a dual exhaust setup with an electronic cutout that allows the driver to choose between rear exhaust for street driving and unmuffled side exhaust for track days; 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, borrowed from the Hellcat; Brembo six-piston brake calipers with two-piece slotted and vented rotors; stiffer anti-roll bars; a coilover suspension; a rear strut tower brace; retro badging; and satin black trim. Inside, the T/A concept carried carbon fiber shell front seats with harness cutouts and high-grip cloth upholstery; a brushed aluminum panel in place of the rear seat (removed for weight savings); a 180 MPH speedometer, a pistol grip shifter and a flat-bottomed steering wheel (to facilitate heel-toe driving).

Chrysler has no plans to put the T/A Concept Challenger into production, though interested owners could replicate the car with help from the Mopar parts catalog and aftermarket support.

November 12, 2014 9:51 am

Phantom Hawksays:

November 12, 2014 11:37 am

C TRICH..I agree…ho hum…yawn…yawn…but I’m sure some of these will be bought by folks of means but then driven little, becoming distant future belong-in-a-barn finds over which some collector will slobber and drool, finally giving up a of couple little precious things [I.E. no more kids] so he can tool around in his ‘looky this great set of wheels from WAY BACK in 2015!!’

And the GREEN FLASH!!!??? C’mon guys, way TOO MANY comic books…why not call it the Green Hornet…or does Fiat/Chrysler still own the rights to the Hornet moniker from the AMC/Jeep take-over?

Kurt Ernstsays:

November 12, 2014 11:46 am

Phantom Hawk, a lot of the Boss 302 Mustangs were sold to collectors as additions to their portfolios, but anyone who’s ever driven a Boss 302 at a track event can tell you what a crime that is. The good news is that they’re slowly coming down in price, so if the trend continues I should be able to afford one in the next 20 or 30 years.

November 12, 2014 9:40 am

Kurt Ernstsays:

November 12, 2014 9:56 am

Bill, in my former life I reviewed new cars for a living, so I’ve driven the current Camaro and Challenger on numerous occasions (as well as the outgoing Mustang). My 1/50 of a dollar is that the former Mustang was the most entertaining for track days (in fact, the Boss 302 variant is my favorite car of the past decade), the Challenger is a great car for high-speed, cross-country touring, and the Camaro splits the difference between the two (bulkier than the Mustang, but more nimble than the Challenger).

My hangup with the new Camaro is egress – I could never get in or out without smashing my head on the roof, and at 5’10, I’m not particularly tall.

Kurt Ernstsays:

November 12, 2014 12:01 pm

Nolan Pahudsays:

November 12, 2014 2:20 pm

Speaking of egress, my gripe is the high beltline on most new cars. Try resting your elbow on top of the door while cruising without dislocating your shoulder. The driver’s head is about all that’s visible when seated. It’s probably our government in action for roll-over protection, but I don’t like it. Driving sensibly should keep the car on all four wheels!

Jsays:

November 12, 2014 2:54 pm

I considered the 2014 Camaro for the replacement for my nimble little ’02 Mustang, but the rear and flank visibility just weren’t enough. My first pony car was a ’67 Camaro, so I have great affection for the line. My ’14 Mustang is a very satisfactory daily driver and highway streamer.
J

Ragesays:

February 9, 2015 6:48 pm

Jack in VAsays:

November 12, 2014 11:13 am

Dave tsays:

November 12, 2014 11:17 am

Guys c’mon! What’s not to like about having a new pony car in your garage? It will whip the ass of any 60s muscle car, doesn’t need daily fettling and pampering, goes round corners (ok to an extent with beam axles) and give tolerable gas mileage.
These last editions will be the collector cars of my kids – who have no interest in the cars from my youth.
They are there to be driven hard, to enjoy and even to invest in – should you care to keep it long enough.
They all look like great factory hot rods to me and keep the spirit of the muscle car alive

Kurt Ernstsays:

November 12, 2014 11:43 am

Dave t, only the previous generation Mustang relied upon a live rear axle – the Camaro and the Challenger both offered four-wheel independent suspension. That was just one more reason why the new Mustang had to come with an independent rear suspension, breaking from tradition.

Arniesays:

November 12, 2014 1:05 pm

kittypooch8says:

November 12, 2014 4:42 pm

And, how ironic is this. Today, many restorers are converting ancient carburetor technology into modern ‘state-of-the-art’ MP-EFI. In 30 or so years from now, (our kids) will be converting the (worn-out, expensive, rare and finicky) MP-EFI setups to (ancient) carburetors – likely still being produced. OH, and, so far, NObody has mentioned the excessive (bulk, weight, flab) contained on today’s (so-called) muscle cars – that use up so much valuable horsepower just to off-set the extra weight. AIR-BAGS IN A MUSCLE-CAR?? SERIOUSLY??

glennsays:

November 17, 2014 4:46 am

The MAIN difference is the new Camaro has no character (NO reference to the older), the Challenger and Mustang do, and who doesn’t want to work on their own car? If you don’t have a degree in auto repair and thousands of dollars in equipment, you CAN’T work on your “NEW” Muscle!

Olddavidsays:

November 12, 2014 12:02 pm

All Davids think alike. I, too, am proud of the progenitors as well as the offspring. But, having spent many evenings with a flashlight in my mouth trying to gap a rear distributored small block, the modern coil on plug cars are hands down better engineered. And should be – its 50 years on. The OEM’s have spoiled us with 250 h.p. four bangers and 300 in the sixes. With OBDII to tell us where the faults are, too. I miss the style of the old cars, but not the temperament they had to have to achieve 1hp per cubic inch.

Howiesays:

November 12, 2014 12:14 pm

kittypooch8says:

November 12, 2014 4:45 pm

Dave Hoelchersays:

November 12, 2014 6:08 pm

“driven little”??? Some of us DO buy late model musclecars and make use of the high performance features. The AMXs are tucked away for some day & the new hemi Challenger gets the adrenaline flowing several times a week. Granted, there are very few places to wind it out in sixth, but rowing thru the gears with the go pedal down till common sense says lift is still almost as fun as it was in the seventies. Getting a thumbs up wherever we go is still a great feeling. If a car magazine really wanted to serve it’s readers, it would let us know which parts & pieces from the new models will fit the recent incarnations of these great street machines.

Kurt Ernstsays:

November 13, 2014 11:39 am

JohnDsays:

November 16, 2014 5:10 pm

I’m a great lover of the ’60s & ’70s muscle cars but auction fever has put decent finished examples of those out of reach for most of us ‘backyard gearheads’ these days. I own a HEMI Ram (std cab, short box, 2wd, like the Rumble Bee) and a ’86 Mustang GT 5.0 and both are fun to drive. However, my heart has always belonged to the ’70-’71 Challengers. With that said, I must say that the new versions of all three are, in my opinion, venerable examples of all-out muscle with daily driver capabilities. Sorry to hear these are boring to some. I’ve test driven and rented examples of the latest Mustang and Challenger and have to say they both met and exceeded my expectations for performance and surprised me in their comfort level as a driver. I could live with a 5.7 HEMI Challenger in the garage. Would I like to build an original Challenger? Sure. But for the same cash or less, I can turn key on a hot new one and not have to wrench on it every other week. Though choice . . .

glennsays:

November 18, 2014 4:57 am

The problem with this whole article (in my opinion)
is all the attention given to the Camaro. 1st is 4 pictures of the Camaro and “1” of the Challenger. The Challenger is a “TA” and only 1 picture? 2nd, I wasn’t there so I cant say, but are you telling me that Dodge didn’t have a “HellCat at the show? 3rd, I could care less what the bottom of the new Camaro or even a new Challenger looks like!

Earles McCaulsays:

November 18, 2014 12:43 pm

Come on FIAT, why not make a limited-production-run of those T/A-Challengers? You just might coerce me into thinking about a 2015/2016 resurrection-surrogate of the “real” AAR ‘Cuda 6BBL that I once owned (ha,ha)!

glennsays:

November 21, 2014 4:41 am

Earles, they decided NOT to go with the REBIRTH of the cuda’, against all who tried to push them into going foreword. If they did, the Hellcat would not be, the cuda’ would be the performance KING! Funny how you don’t hear much about the Hellcat being the most powerful production car WITHOUT sending the car to performance shops AFTER it leaves the assembly line!

MrWigglysays:

March 12, 2015 9:21 pm

the T/A concept should have the snorkle hood-like the original- not a Viper/AAR style hood, an aftermarket 6 pak fuel injection, and “392 SIX- PAK” on the fenders.
that would be a Challenger T/A……make mine in Furious Fuschia